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NO ZOMBIES!

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NO ZOMBIES!

By Ken Blue

There is no proof that there will be a 40 day waiting period between the resurrection of the saints and the rapture. The charge for you to disprove the argument is like challenging you to PROVE that Peter did not kill his mother-in-law. You may not believe it, but there is no way you can PROVE he did not. That is the spider-web the zombie doctrine is built on.

              Also, there are too many “ifs” and “maybes” in the argument. In addition, the use of Lot and Noah has no place or reference to the church of this dispensation. Those verses speak of the days of Israel. In that day, their coming Tribulation. In the day of the second coming, not the rapture (Lk. 17:34-37; Mt. 24:27-31; 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21).

              The argument that zombies will spend 40 days witnessing may be appealing…The fact that the dead in Christ rise first, is not proof that there will be 40 days before the rapture. The only answer to that challenge, by the creator of this false doctrine, is, “I will be as critical of your answer as you are of mine.” What kind of proof it that?

              Lastly, the argument that these zombies will spend those 40 days witnessing to the lost may be appealing, but that is not what the Apostles spent their time doing. See, “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. One may conveniently overlook the fact that they were required to WAIT 40 days for the witnessing power of the Holy Spirit.

              Thus, belief in a zombie doctrine is a stretch of an imagination gone wild and an attempt to be novel and sensational. It may be novel, but it is not sensational. Neither is it validated by any Scripture, Nor should one give this novelty a serious thought.

HOW TO KILL A CHURCH; A MILE DEEP AND AN INCH WIDE

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Kill a church

 

By Ken Blue

All of us have heard of the tragic results when doctors make a mistake and give the patient the wrong injection or pills. Many times the results are fatal. That is one reason others should be brought in to assist and assure that mistakes are not made.

I’m sure no pastor or church member would purposely inject a church with ministry concepts that would kill it. In most cases the intended goal is to make the church better. However, many of those decisions are based on preferences rather than on proven methods.

A few years ago, at a preacher’s conference, I heard a pastor criticize churches larger than his own by accusing them of being an “inch deep and a mile wide.” I discovered that his church was neither an inch deep nor an inch wide. I was more like ¼ inch in both directions.

One sure way to kill a church is to put more emphasis on maturity than reaching the lost. When a church becomes more concerned about teaching than reaching, it is only a matter of time till rigor mortis sets in. The leadership then continues to inject embalming fluid, in an attempt to make the corpse appear to be alive. The shift to teaching will kill church growth.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]One sure way to kill a church is to put more emphasis on teaching than reaching.[/pullquote]

Another sure way to kill a church is to have a dead, dull music service. Dr. Jack Hyles built one of the largest churches in America. I personally heard him say that the KEY to an exciting church is atmosphere. Music and decor set the atmosphere. So liven up and mix up your music. You cannot have an Episcopal song service, a Lutheran sermon, and a Pentecostal invitation.

Finally, you kill a church by making sure that your preaching’s only purpose is to fill up the 11:00 hour. The average pastor has no purpose or theme in his messages to reach the purpose statement of the church; if it has one. Can you connect your sermons, lessons, activities, and advertisement to your church purpose statement? If not, your statement means nothing, or your sermons serve no purpose.

If I had to choose, which I did not, between a church that was “an inch deep and a mile wide or a church that was a mile deep and an inch wide,” the choice would be easy. I would take the wider church every time. I have no interest in a handful of “deeper life Christians” that sit around and criticize those of us who have not reached their spiritual depth. Also, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who gets saved than there is over your deeper life sermon. So, aim at reaching the lost and infuse new life in your church.

A VIEW TO GROWTH: ENLARGEMENT

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Crafting ministries with a view to growth

view to growth

 

By Ken Blue

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;” Isaiah 54:2.

God will keep his promises to Israel. In anticipation of the returning remnant, Israel is called upon to enlarge their facilities in order to accommodate them. Their faith will determine how they respond to that command.

The question is; are your plans, facilities, and ministries crafted with a view to growth? Do you really expect God to bless your church with a numerical increase? You need not answer; your plans reveal your faith.

Is your baptistery ready to baptize new converts, or is it like many that are decaying in dry rot? Are your nurseries staffed, clean, and ready for the infants of young families? Do you have trained teachers and workers for children when they arrive? Are your greeters prepared for guest each Sunday? If not, why not? Is it because of a lack of faith?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Your preparation shows your faith or the lack thereof.[/pullquote]

Don’t wait for families to show up before you prepare. Get ready for them now! “And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.” Luke 14:17. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The average church is surprised if they have visitors on Sunday. You should be surprised and disappointed when you don’t have visitors. Is your church pregnant with expectation, that visitors will come? Once again, your preparation shows your faith or the lack thereof.

The experts tell us that the average church building can only maintain about 80% of its seating capacity. So, if your building is 80% full, you must take action to grow. “…lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;” Isaiah 54:2

Sad to say, some pastors do not want their church to grow. It is just large enough to pay them a salary, and just small enough to be a comfortable little family. If a church is doing what the Lord commanded, it ought to see new visitors and new converts each week. Pastor, the truth is we plan our church ministries according to our faith and vision. I challenge you; enlarge your existing ministries and expect growth from the Lord. Get a view to growth!

HOW IMPORTANT IS SOUL-WINNING

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How Important Is Soul-Winning

Soul-WinningBy Ken Blue

How important is soul-winning? Perhaps the following illustration will help you decide: A storm developed in the Pacific Ocean and for several days the waves crashed against the sandy beaches of the Hawaiian Islands. Thousands of sand dollars washed upon the seashore and were stranded. A lady, walking along the beach, saw them and one by one began tossing them back into the ocean. A man came along and said, “You’re wasting your time. There are too many for you to make a difference.” She picked up one and threw it back into the water and said, “It made a difference to that one.” She picked up another and as she tossed it back into the ocean she said, “It made a difference to that one.”

I ask you, how important is soul-winning? You decide. It will make a difference to that one.

THE SALES DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT

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Service

 

By Ken Blue

Romans 12:1  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

No doubt there will be some who will think it sacrilegious to compare the ministries of a church to the sales department, and the service department of a business, however, the comparison is valid, and justifiable.

In most business these two departments exist, and are distinct. For example, walk on any car lot, and experience the onslaught of salesmen. These men and women are dressed to the max; they are friendly, outgoing, and persistent. You buy the car, just to get them off your back. However, you soon discover that the service depart is a different story.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Outreach and well-structured ministries are the two indispensables of any church.[/pullquote]

I know businesses that I would never enter again, nor would I recommend them to any of my friends. Seldom is it because of the salesmen, or the greeters we are turned off with. In most cases it will be the faulty service you experience. I just had a lady, this week, tell me of a church she and her husband visited several years ago, and when it was time to shake hands, and greet the visitors, no one acknowledged their presence. That was some twenty years ago. People don’t forget bad experiences, and they are quick to tell others.

Whether we want to admit it or not, if a church cannot sell itself to the community, and the visitors, people will not come. You may object by saying we are not in the selling business, we are in the gospel business. The sad truth is, many churches are not in the selling business and because of this, they can’t even give the gospel away! First impressions are the ones that last.

Every church should wrap itself in soul winning. You must plan everything with the lost in mind. Let your church become a soul trap. In addition, you must be just as diligent about having a perfect service department. Pastor, please take note; there are others churches your people could attend. If you don’t provide the services they feel they need, you will lose them. Soul winning and well-structured ministries are the two indispensables.